The Paint and Coatings Academy returns in 2026 with a yearlong schedule of short courses designed to support applied learning across formulation, processing and coatings chemistry. Built for professionals working throughout the paint and coatings industry, the Academy emphasizes practical education rooted in real-world formulation challenges and manufacturing realities.

In February, Rheological Additives in Latex Paint Formulations provides a practical overview of rheological control in waterborne architectural coatings. The course reviews paint rheology fundamentals, ASTM viscosity test methods and the selection of rheological additives, with case studies demonstrating how different thickeners influence viscosity profiles, application behavior and storage stability.

The March course, Surfactants and Rheology: Chemistry, Theory, Mechanism and Application, begins with a review of surfactant types and chemical structures before examining surface activity, wetting, micelle formation and foam behavior. The course also introduces rheology principles, including deformation forces, viscosity profiles and rheological agent chemistry across multiple formulation types.

In April, Cure On-Demand Coatings explores coating systems designed to remain stable over long shelf lives while curing rapidly when exposed to a specific stimulus. Topics include free-radical polymerization, thiol-acrylate and thiol-epoxy reactions, along with photopolymerization, frontal polymerization and water-activated cure mechanisms.

The May course, Formulating for Architectural Coatings, focuses on raw materials commonly used in architectural systems, including resins, additives, solvents and pigments. Participants review required coating properties, testing methods and formulation strategies used to optimize rheology and reduce VOC content.

In June, Powder Coatings Processing examines the critical role of manufacturing parameters in powder coating performance. The course reviews premixing and extrusion steps, common appearance defects and how processing adjustments can improve quality and reduce the need for reformulation or reprocessing.

The July course, Waterborne Polymers and Film Formation, reviews monomers used in waterborne polymers and the emulsion polymerization process. The session then examines film formation and factors influencing glass transition temperature and minimum film formation temperature, including polymer composition, particle size and coalescing agents.

In August, Hansen Solubility Parameters: A Scientific Approach for Coating Formulators introduces Hansen Solubility Parameters as a quantitative method for evaluating compatibility among polymers, solvents, pigments and dispersants. The course demonstrates how HSP can be applied to solvent replacement, pigment dispersion and formulated products.

In September, the Paint and Coatings Academy will once again offer a robust program of in-person short courses during the Coatings Trends and Technologies Summit. Details on the in-person program will be announced closer to the event at https://www.pcimag.com/coatings-conference.

The October course, Adhesion, Surface Aspects and Coatings Defects, will address surface-related performance and defect mechanisms in coating systems, with additional details to be released ahead of the session.

The year concludes in November with Pigment Dispersion, which examines the chemistry, theory and mechanisms behind achieving stable dispersions of pigments, fillers and matting agents. Topics include dispersion processes, pigment stabilization mechanisms, dispersant chemistry and equipment considerations.

Meet the 2026 Academy Instructors

The 2026 Paint and Coatings Academy is led by a group of instructors with decades of combined experience across formulation, raw materials, independent testing laboratories and academic research. Artur Palasz, Ph.D., R&D Director at Spektrochem Coatings Laboratory, brings extensive experience in polymer synthesis, waterborne formulation and ASTM testing. Sam Morell, a chemical engineer with more than 50 years in the chemicals industry, has held technical and commercial roles at Rohm and Haas, BASF and Air Products and Chemicals and is a long-time industry educator and author. John A. Pojman, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Chair at Louisiana State University and President of Pojman Polymer Products, specializes in polymer chemistry, nonlinear dynamics and cure-on-demand systems. Michael Praw, Senior Applications Scientist at Indorama Ventures, brings more than 35 years of formulation experience spanning coatings manufacturers and raw material suppliers, with a focus on architectural and performance coatings.

Together, the instructors support the Academy’s focus on applied education that connects chemistry, processing and performance across modern paint and coatings systems.

See the full schedule and register here.